Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-02-17

/ clearly stated, it seems TO me, than in this
/ bill. When the law of 1878 was upon its
/ passage IN congress the number of pen
sloners TO be benefited thereby was
thought to be 974, but the number of an
/ plications under the act, was 22297, and
the number of pensions actually allowed
was 20,4S5, counting those reported for
the fiscal year, and $1,si7 900 we're paid
/ instead of $4,000, the estimated expens.
es for that period. law was passed
in 1863 for the benefit o. the sur.
Viying widows of revolutionary soldiers.
who were married after Jan. l, 1900. II
was estimated that they numbered 500 at
the time of The passage Of the act but
the number of pensions allowed was
3,742, and the amount paid for such pen-
sions during the first year of the opera
tien of the act was $4,000 instead of
! $4,000 as had been estimated. / need
not search for other illustrations and
the above, being on hand are given
rs tending TO show that
ESTIMATES CANNOT BE RELIED UpoS
IN such cases. If none should be pen.
stoned under this bill except those utterly
unable to work, l am satisfied that the
cost stated in the estimate referred to
would be many times multiplied and
with constant increase from year to year,
arf If those partially unable 70 earn sup
port should be admitted to the privileges
of the bill, probably the increase of ex-
rense would be almost appalling. | think
1t may be said that &C the close of
the rebellion every northern state and a
great majority of the nsrthsrn counties
and cities were burdened with taxation
on account of bounties paid our soldiers
| and the bonded debt thereby created still
constitutes a large item in the account of
the tax gatherers against tho people
/ The federal taxation, no less borne by
| the people than that directly levied upon
| their prop erty, is still maintained at q
rate made necessary by the exigencies of
war. If this bill should become a law with
! tremendous addition to orr previous OBJ
legation, am thoroughly convinced that
further efforts to
REDUCE FEDERAL REVENUE
and restore some part of it to our people
will, and perhaps, should be seriously
questioned. 1t has constantly been
cause of pride and coHgratulution to the
American citizen that his country is not
! put to the charge of maintaining large
standing army in time OF peace, as we
are now living and war tax which has
been tolerated in peaceful times to meet
the obligations incurred in war, But
| for years past, in all parts of the coun
try, the demand for Il reduction of the
/ burdens of taxation upon our labor and
| production has increased in volume and
urgency. am not willing to approve a
measure presenting the objections to
which this bill is subject and which more
over win have the effect of disappointing
| the expectation of the people, their
desire and hope for relief from war tax
alton in time of peace.
! In my last annual message the follow
! ing language was used every patriotic
heart responds to tender considera-
/ tion for those who having served their
country long and well are reduced to des
| titution and dependence, not as incident
of their service but with advancing age
or through sickness or misfortunes, and
we are all tempted by eontemp lation of
ssch condition to
! SUPPLY RELIEF,
and are often impatient of the limitations
of public duty, yielding to none to desire
\ to indulge this feeling of consideration
| | cannot rid myself of the conviction that
! II lnese o&-s0lulef5 are TO nc renewed,
they and their cause are entitled to an
enactment under which relief may be
claimed as right, and that such relief
should be granted under sanction of
law, not in evasion of it. Nor
should such worthy objects of care,
all equally entitled be RENTED to the
unequal operation of sympathy or of the
tender mercy of social and political in
huence, with their just determinations
do not think that the objects, condi-
| tons and limitations thus suggested are
contained in the bill under consideration,
adhere to the sentiments thus hereto
| fore expressed, but the evil threatened
by this bill is, in my opinion, such that,
charged with great sponsibilityin behalf
of the people, cannot do otherwise than
to bring to the consideration of this
measure my best efforts of thought and
judgment, and perform my constitution.
al duty in relation thereto, regardless of
all consequences except such as appear
to me TO be related to the best and high
est interests of the country.
GzoyBR CLEVELAND.